I really enjoyed the trip to the NEC last weekend for the Classic Car Show and MPH/TopGear Live. Me and my dad went, I drove down on the Friday evening and spent Saturday in the Classic show, then Sunday morning watching TopGear Live then the rest of the day finishing off what id missed in the classic show - there was so much to see i could have easily spent another day there!
The TopGear live show was a bit tamed down on previous years, not quite as many daring stunts, but it was very good. The two new Porsche 911s driving around in flames was the best part for me, excellent effects, especially with them leaving trails of fire on the ground.
The classic car show was as good as ever, though i felt the CCC stand was not as good as it had been, it was overshadowed by the TOC and 2cv stand, which were both very good with the CCC perched on the corner.
It was good to see a Renault stand, there has not been one there for years. It even had a Renault 4 on the stand, a tidy GTL in bright yellow. Along with some very nice older Renaults, 16s etc, and even an Avantime.
The trade stands were very good, i picked up quite a few things there, cleaning products, brochures and models.
I took my C5 for the trip, it performed brilliantly, cruise set to 70 on the satnav and off it went. Did the whole trip at 49MPG, which was impressive given we got cought up in traffic. C5s are such excellent cruisers, they are at home doing hundreds of motorway miles, very few cars offer the levels of quietness and comfort, the Xm cant beat it for refinement!
I took my C5 for its MOT this week, it passed without faults. A couple of the more vulnerable suspension pipes are showing early corrosion, so the MOT tester commented that they just need a quite rub down and painting/greasing.
Im happy with that, its due a 6000 mile service, so ill have to find time to do that soon. Along with a brake fluid change as thats over due.
The Xm needed new parking brake cables after one had snapped. Its front discs and pads were in need of replacing, so theyhave now all been fitted and its going as well as ever. Looking better with its missing headlamp washer cover now replaced - still available from Citroen for about £35.
The 1007 is now looking virtually like new, its bodywork dink is sorted, serviced and its going very well. The 1007 has interior trim pannels which can be unzipped and replaced, the kit is called the cameleo trim kit and every 1007 came with two sets from new. However ours only had the one it was wearing which was a bit grubby. So after sending it away for a valet i pruchased a new Cameleo set of trim covers from Ebay for the pricely sum of £18 incl. deliver, which is now fitted. In the kit you get both upper and lower internal seat squab covers, new rear armrest and front door pannels and new rings for the heater blower vents. Its looking much better now, it has a dark blue/checked trim kit, instead of its original silver.
I think its unpopularity is the reason why 1007 specific add on parts are so cheap. I got a brand new Peugeot carpet set for £10, 1007 mudflaps for £15 a full set. Eventually it will be up for sale, but at the moment we are enjoying it, its great for around town.
Though we still have the Seat, whcih we need to sell, but at the moment it doesnt want to leave, throwing up problems and things which need to be fixed. It has been almost faultless for 6 years, now sale time is here the exhaust has gone and it snapped a front spring when i was driving it the other weekend. Both are now fixed but the front springs are not right, its sitting too high and drives like a jelly, so i need to change those again.
I use the Peugeot on and off, I often get comments about its sliding doors, though usually good! The 2-tronic box is still impressive, if i had to live with it every day then id probably get tired of its slow changes, but as it is its very easy to drive. It really makes my 40 minute crawl into Newcastle City Centre more bearable!
The Traction is now in hibernation for the winter, i doubt it will be out again this year, so its having a rest in its warm garage. Its done a good few miles since we got it back on the road in May following its engine rebuild. Its still going very well. Its insurance value was questioned earlier in the year, so after finding out its worth more than it was insured for and swapping its classic cover to another company, we had to get a proper evaluation on it so to insure it for its correct value. It took a while but through various specialists and CCC club officials we now have it insured for its value. Its increased considerably.
So no real French Car problems to report at this stage, everything is going well and my C5 is behaving. Ive decided to keep it for the long term now, its the perfect commuter for my uni drive and its size comes in very handy at work too.
Here are a few pictures of the Pug:

The interior with its new Cameleo trim:
